Search - Paul Halley :: Piano Song

This album is not just New Age air pudding.

Christine Potter | Rockland, NY | 11/28/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Honestly, I never listened to stuff like Paul Halley until I got married to an ex-hippie church organist. Maybe being in my late 40's has something to do with it, too...but my personal reasons for liking this music in no way diminish how honestly sweet, well conceived and well performed it is. Yeah, some of this sounds like the background music that makes you cry at tear-jerker movies, but let's face it--there's a time for that sort of thing. And this is a classy project; the very warm humming sound on the first track is no mere synth fake-up. It happens to be the huge and amazing pipe organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC, where Halley used to reign supreme as an improvisor. Gigs like that one don't fall out of the sky onto minor musicians. There is no bad day, no bad mood, no loss or frustration that cannot be muted by listening to this soothing and gentle CD--especially with a non-New Age drink in hand and a good book to read. Buy this music. You won't listen to it every day (unless you really are a fan of this sort of thing), but the time will come when you will be VERY glad you own it."

Pianosong

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 02/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Halley has two major feathers in his cap. The first is over a decade as the music director for The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. As one would expect from the World's largest Gothic Cathedral, the requirements for the position are exhaustive. Halley was the driving factor for broadening the church's music program from staunchly classical to include contemporary works.Halley's second credential is his membershi in The Paul Winter Consort for the next 19 years. Winter's standards are notoriously high, with a heavy emphasis on both teamwork and improvisation, and Halley fit right in. Pianosong is from early in that period (1986) - an album by an already well-established artist that clearly demonstrated his capabilities as both an instrumentalist and a composer.Halley's music is on the soft jazz side of new age. These pieces are highly melodic - songs written for the piano. Technical proficiency is certainly not absent, but it isn't the core focus. He stays within warm tonalities making this a comfortable album that immediately fits like an old, well-made shoe. This makes the album a great introduction to the genre, something that bears up under the wear and tear of repeated listening."

My favorite piano music ever.

Poinciana Pelican | Florida | 06/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this when dating a guy as a sophomore in college. 18+ years later I had insomnia one night and thought "might as well try amazon every piano CD there was from 1989 and see if I can find it". (I had an old cassette version of it but spilled soft drink on it and ruined it about 10 or 15 years ago). So, I was beyond thrilled when thanks to amazon search process I could narrow it down and FOUND it. I am so moved by this music. I think it's amazing. I'm not the type to buy classical or instrumental music.....too busy, too tired, etc.. with young kids...but this made an impact on me years ago...and it still does. My hubby thinks the music is "nice"...but thinks some of the songs are a bit depressing. Too me they are just beautiful and poignant. Good when you are in the mood to reflect and be by yourself and just "be"."